Primary battery.



A. L. SALTZMAN.

PRIMARY BATTERY.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14, 1912..

1,126,295, Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTE L. SALTZMAN, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY.MESNE ASSIGN- MEN'I'S, TO NEW JERSEY PATENT COMPANY, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A.

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PRHEARY BATTERY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 26, 3 19115.

Application filed August 14, 1912. Serial No. 714,967. K

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUcUs'rE L. SAL'rz- 2.1m, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Primary Batteries, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to improvements 1n primary batteries and particularly, but not exclusively, to that class of batteries in which the positive and negative elements are assembled 'in a unitary structure and supported from thebattery jar cover, my invention being in some aspects an improvement on that described in the patent to Eben G. Dodge, 894,487, dated July 28, 1908 and entitled primary batteries. As in the patent to Dodge, the negative element or elements may consist of a plate or plates of oxid of copper or other depolarizing agent, and the positive element or elements may consist of a plate or plates of zinc. By the term positive element, as herein used, I mean the element or plate from which current flows through the electrolyte to the other or negative element. The principal object of my invention is to provide a large amount of active electrode or plate surface both for a given height of the battery elements or plates and a given diameter or size of container so as to increase the capacity and efficiency of batteries of the type in question both for a given height thereof and a given volume of electrolyte.

In accordancewith the above object, it is evident that for a given amount of ma terial or surface of the elements 01' plates, the height of the latter in my improved battery is considerably less than with batteries heretofore in use; so that the elements or plates when suspended from a battery jar cover need not, as heretofore, project into the heavy inactive electrolyte at the bottom of the battery jar, and the eiiiciency of the battery is thereby increased. As the-extent of active surface of the elements for a given height is increased by my invention. the effective voltage of the cell is also increased. In carrying out the above object of my invention, I employ a number of elements or plates greater than three, that is, I employ what may. be called a multiple element construction. Otherobjects of my invention reside in the provlslon of a compact and strong structure of the type specified and in combination of parts and details of construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be better understood, attention is directed to the accompanylng drawings forming a part of this specification, and in. Which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a primary battery constituting one embodi-' ment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan View of the parts of my invention below the line 2-2, in Fig. 1, some of the parts being shown 1n section taken 'on said line; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3.-3 of Fig. 1

and looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a primarybattery constituting in part a modification of my invention, the modification consisting solely in the-means for spacing the battery elements from the battery jar cover. Fig. 5 is a view partly in elevated and partly in section of means whereby the battery elements may be supported on the bottom of the battery jar.

In all the views, like parts are designated by the same reference numerals.

Referring to the drawings, at'l is shown a primary battery jar of glass or other suitable material provided with a cover 9 of insulating material, such as porcelain, from which cover a unitary structure comprising a frame containing the positive and negative elements of the battery is adapted to be suspended by a single suspension means, as, for example, the threaded rod or bolt 3. The frame referred to comprises a plurality of upper arms 4 and lower arms 5 mounted on the bolt 3 and channel shaped erably beveled (see Fig. 1) so that an intimate contact is obtained; The ends of'the arms 4 and 5 are provided with downturned portions '4' and upturned portions .5 "respectively which serve to prevent outward movement of the negative plates 6 and to sheet copper or copper plated iron or steel.

The arms 4 and 5 arev held in firm engage ment and electrical connection with the plates 6 by means of a nut 7 threadedon the bolt 3 above the arms 4 and a spring clamp 8 and nut 9 below the arms 5, the member It is to be noted that each of these angular I disposed portions iselectri'cally a separate electrode or plate and that so far as applicantsfinventlon is concerned, these portions or elements may be made separate from each other. For convenience of construction, however, I prefer to employ a single member, the angular disposed portions of which act as separate electrodes or elements, as shown.

For holding the positive elements properly 8 resting yieldingly in engagement with spaced from each other and from the negathe arms 5 intermediate the bolt 3 and the outer ends of said arms.

In the preferred form of the invention as disclosed' in the drawing the channel shaped members forming the arms 4 and 5 extend equal distances on opposite sides of the bolt 3, so that each of these members forms two arms, each of which rests in engagement with an edge of a separate plate. In order that all of the upper channel shaped members on the one hand and the lower channel shaped members on the other hand may lie in substantially the same horizontal plane, "the lateral flanges thereof are turned outwardly into a substantially horizontal position where the arms cross and the material of one arm at this point is offset vertically to permit said arm to cross the other arm. The plates 6 and the channel arms supporting and engaging the same are arrangedabout the bolt 3 at an angle to each other, and the proper angular relation of the said plates and arms is maintained in part by the interengagement of the lateral flanges of the said arms adjacent the bolt 3. By drawing up the nuts 7 and 9, the arms 4 and 5 will be drawn into close engagement with the plates 6 and the latter will be held in proper angular relation with respect to each other, the plates and arms being firmly supportedmn the bolt 3. To assist ln-maintaining the arms and the negative plates in proper angular relationship with respect to each other, I preferably form the member 8 with channel shaped arms fitting over the arms 5, as shown in- Fig. 1. By .reason of the yielding character of the member 8, the same will be firmly held in engagement with thelower arms 5 and will eifectively maintain the latter in firm engagement with the plates 6, along the whole of the lower edges of the latter.

The zinc or positive plates or elements are shown at 10 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, these elements being located in the angular spaces tive elements, I employ a block ll of insulating material such as porcelain, this block being provided with angular recesses 12 (see herein, four zinc members are employed, two

boltsserving to secure the said members to -the said insulation, each bolt securing two zinc members to the block 11. Nuts 15 are,

provided for the bolts 14 and Washers 16 are located between the said nuts and the tabs or projections on the adjacent zinc plates. The bolts 14 and the nuts and washers herein referred to are made of conductive material and cooperate with the conductors 17 and 18 in electrically connecting the positive elements to each other. The conductor 17 is secured at its ends between the heads of the bolt 14 and washers 19 engaging the tabs or projections on the zinc plates and the conductor 18 is clamped between the nuts 15 and the washers 16, the latter being in firm contact and electrical connection with the tabs or projections en the adjacent zinc plates. The member 18 extended beyond the bolts 14as shown in the drawings so as to serve to conduct at current from the external circuit to the zinc plates. To per-. init the proper positioning of the block 11 and the positive elements orplates carried thereby with respect to the negative elements or plates, the block 11 is provided with recesses 20 in which then upper arms 4 of the frame supporting the negative plates.

7 so that cross arms 4 may be drawn up without hindrance in the grooves or recesses 20. A nut 22serves to clamp the block 11 firmly against the frame carrying the negative elements. As the positive plates are firmly held in fixed relative position on the insulating block 11 and as the latter is rigidly secured in fixed position on the frame carrying the negative elements, it will beseen that when my improved battery is once assembled, thevarious parts and elements will be firmly held and will remain in the relative positions in which they were assemby a single suspension, such as'the bolt 3.

In the drawings, this structure is shown of such a height that when suspended from the cover 2 the positive and negative elements are entirely located in the activeelectrolyte )in the upper-part of the battery jar. It is further to be noted-that with the form of my invention herein disclosed, the number of negative elements is only oneshalf the number of positive elementsso that these latter elements may be made of considerable thickness and plates of compressed copper oxid of considerable strength may, therefore, be employed. For holding the unitary structure carrying the battery plates a proper distance below the cover of the battery jar, I prefer ably interpose a spacing collar 23, and a nut 24 of considerably larger diameterthan said collar between the nut 22 and the bottom of the battery jar cover, as shown in Fig. 1, the whole plate or element supporting structure being drawn up in position with the nut 24 in engagement with the bottom of the battery jar cover by a wing nut 25 mounted on the bolt 3 above the cover and adapted to be drawn down into engagement with the upper surface thereof. An additional wi'ng nut 26 is threaded on the stem or bolt 3 above the wing nut 25, the'two wing nuts 25 and 26 affording means for connecting the conducting frame supporting the copper oxid plates to the external circuit, it being understood that the copper oxid plates are in electrical connection with the cross arms 4 and 5 and that the latter are in electrical connection with the bolt 3. If the battery jar cover be provided with a boss or projection, as shown at 27 (Fig. 4), I may omit the collar 23 and nut 24, as shown in Fig. 4, permitting nut 22 to engage the boss or projection 27. In Fig. 4, the boss or projection is provided with a recess 28 for the nut 22.

Obviously, my invention is applicable to primary batteries having a greater number ofelements than herein disclosed. The elements may, if desired, be supported from the bottom of. the battery jar, .as shown in Fig. 5, instead of from the battery jar. Referring to Fig.5, the numeral 29 designates base or support resting on the bottom of the battery jar and provided with a central boss or projection 30in which the central bolt 3 is threaded, the base 29 therefore serving as a support for the unitary frame supporting the battery elements. The bolt 3 should, of course, be extended downwardly the neces sary amount to insure the proper positioning of the elements in the electrolyte. Nu-

merous other changes may be made in the specific form of my invention disclosed without departing from the spirit of my-invention. a

What I claim as new anddesire to protect by Letters Patent'of the United States is as follows: i r I 1. .In a primary battery, a plurality of negative elements angularly disposed with respect to each other and radially disposed with respect to a substantially vertical axis, a plurality of positive elements, each of .said positive elements having a surface substantially parallel with a negative element surface for coiiperation therewith, and

means for mechanically connecting said elements together and for insulating the elements of one polarity from the elements of the other polarity, substantially as de- .scribed.

.2. In a primary battery, a plurality of negative elements angularly disposed with respect to each other, a plurality of positive elements arranged in the spaces intermediate said negative elements, the positive elements in each such space being angularly disposed with respect to each other, and

means for mechanically connecting said elementstogether and for insulating the elements of one polarity from the elements of the other polarity, substantially as described.

3. In a primary battery, a plurality of negative elements angularly disposed with respect to each other, two positive'elements in each space between twoadjacent negative elements, each of said positive elements being operatively disposed with respect to one of said negative elements, and means for mechanically connecting said elements together and for insulating the elements of one polarity from the elements of the other polar ity, substantially as described.

4. In a primary battery, a plurality of negative elements angularly disposed with respect to eachother, a plurality of positive elements, each of said positive elements having a surface substantially arallel with a negative element surface or cooperation therewith, means for insulating the elements of one polarity from the elements of the other polarity, and means coaeting with said insulating means for mechanically connecting said elements into a unitary structure adapted for suspension from a battery jar cover, substantiallyas described.

5. In a primary battery, a plurality of electrode elements of one polarity angularly disposed with respect to each other and radially disposed with respect to a common central axis, a plurality of electrode elements of the opposite polarity, means for insulating the elements of one polarity from the elements of the other polarity, and means coacting with said insulating means for mechanically connecting said elements into a unitary structure adapted for suspension from a battery jar cover, said last named means including means for connecting electrically elements of like polarity, substantially as described.

6. In' a primary battery, a plurality of copper oxid plates angularly disposed with respect to each other, a plurality of zinc plates arranged in the spaces intermediate said copper oxid plates, and means for mechanically connecting said plates togethcr and insulating the plates of one polarity from the plates of the other polarity, substantially as described.

7..In a primary battery, a plurality of negative plates angularly disposed with respect to each other, a positive member in each space between two adjacent negative plates, each of said members comprising two plate-like portions at an angle to each other, one portion for each of the adjacent negative elements, and means for mechanically connecting said plates and members together and for insulating said plates from said members, substantially as described.

8. In a primary battery, a plurality of negative plates angularly disposed with respect to each other, a positive member in each space between two adjacent negative plates, each of said positive members comprising two plate-like portions at an angle to each other, one portion for each of the adjacent negative elements, means for insulating said plates from said members, and means coacting with said insulating means for mechanically connecting said plates and members into a unitary structure adapted for suspension from a battery jar cover, substantially as described.

9. In a primary battery, a plurality of negative elements angularly disposed with respect to each other, a plurality of positive elements, arranged in the spaces intermediate said negative elements, means for insulating the elements of one polarity from the elements of the other polarity, and a conducting frame in electrical connection with said negative elements for supporting and uniting the same, substantially as described.

10. In a primary battery, a plurality of negative elements angularly disposed with respect to each other, a plurality of positive elements arranged in the spaces intermediate said negative elements, a conducting frame in electrical connection with said negative elements for supporting and uniting the same, and means supported by said frame for insulating the elements of one polarity from the elements of the other polarity, substantially as described.

11. In a primary battery, a plurality of electrode elements of one polarity angularly disposed with respect to each other, a plurality of electrode elements of the opposite polarity, means for insulating the elements of one polarity from the elements of the other polarity, and means coacting with said insulating means for mechanically connecting said elements into a unitary structure, said last named'means being provided with a rod for supporting said structure within battery jar, substantially as described.

12. In a primary battery, a plurality of negative elements angularly disposed with respect to each other, a plurality of positive elements arranged in the spaces intermediate said negative elements, a conducting frame in electrical connection with said negative elements for supporting and uniting the same,

and means supported by said frame for insulating the elements of one polarity from the elements of the other polarity, said frame being provided with a single suspending means for suspending the same within a battery jar, substantially as described.

13. In a primary battery, a plurality of negative elements angularly disposed with respect to each other, a plurality of positive said block for supportin said ne ative elements, said means inclu ing a ro for sup porting said unitary structure within a battery jar, substantially as described.

15. In a primary battery, a plurality of negative elements angularly disposed with respect to each other, a plurality of positive elements arranged in the spacesintermediate said negative elements, a conducting frame having angularly disposed arms in electrical connection with said negative elements for supporting and uniting the same,

and an insulating block supported by said frame for insulating the elements of one polarity from the elements of the. other polarity, substantially as described.

16. In a primary battery, the combination with a plurality of electrode plates, of a unitary conducting frame provided with a plurality of arms for supporting said plates at an angle to each other, the said arms being in electrical connection with the edges of said plates, substantially as described.

17. In a primary battery, the combination with a plurality of angularly disposed electrode plates, of a' unitary frame provided with a plurality of conducting arms in electrical connection with the upper edges of said plates, a plurality of conducting trode plates,

with a plurality of conducting arms in elec arms in electrical connection with the lower edges of said plates, and conducting means for connecting said upper and lower arms, substantially as described.

18. In a primary battery, the combination with a plurality of angularly disposed elecof a unitary frame provided trical connection with the upper edges .of said plates, a plurality of conducting arms in electrical connection with the lower edges of said plates,

, adapted for connection to a battery jar cover for connecting said upper and lower arms,

, substantially as described.

19. In a primary battery, the combination with a plurality of angularly disposed electrode plates of a frame comprising conducting supporting arms engaging edges of said plates, and means for supporting said arms,

said means comprising means engaging said arms intermediate the ends thereof for bolding said arms in firm engagement with said plates, substantially as described. 7

20. In a primary battery, the combination with a plurality of angularly disposed electrode plates, of a frame comprising conducting supporting arms engaging .edges of said plates, and means for supporting said arms comprising resilient. means engaging said arms intermediate the ends thereof for holding said arms in firm engagement with said plates, substantially as described.

In a primary battery, a conducting rod substantially vertically disposed, a plurality of pairs of conducting arms radially disposed with respectto said rod and connected thereto, each of said pairs of arms comprising an upper arm and alower arm,-

and a plurality of angularly disposed electrode plates, each of said plates being 10- cated between an, upper arm and a lower arm'of one of said pairs of arms and in con-,

tact therewith, substantially as described.

22. In a primary battery,'a conducting frame comprising a rod substantially vertically disposed and a plurality of pairs of arms radially disposed with respect to said rod and connected thereto, each of said pairs spect to said means coaeting with said of arms comprising an upper arm and a lower arm, a plurality of angularly disposed negative elements, each of said elements being located between an upper arm and a lower arm of one of said pairs of arms and in contact therewith, an insulator, a plurality of positive elements secured to said insulator, and means for securing said frame andnegative elements to said insulator with said negative elements in operative relation to said positive elements, substantially as I described. and means comprising a bolt 23. In a primary battery, a conducting frame comprising a rod substantially vertically disposed and a plurality of pairs of arms radially disposed with respectto said.

rod and connected thereto, of arms comprising an lower arm, a plurality of angularly disposed negative elements, each of said elements being located between an upperarm and a lower arm of one of said pairs of arms and in contact therewith, an insulator, a plurality of positive elements secured insulator, and means for securing said frame and'negative elements to said insulator with said negativeelements in operative relation to said positive elements, said insulator beeach of said pairs upper arm and a ing provided with means for positioning said frame and negative elements with repositive elements, substantially as described.

24. In a'primary battery, a supporting to said rod, a plurality of electrode elements of one 

